Tens of thousands join anti-government protests across Bulgaria

Описание: (11 Dec 2025)
RESTRICTIONS SUMMARY:

++CLIENTS: RESENDING TO FIX TYPO IN SLUG++

++NIGHT SHOTS++

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sofia, Bulgaria - 10 December 2025
1. Antigovernment protesters light their phone’s torches and shout "Together" during massive demonstration.
2. Protester holding torches shout "Resignation"
3. A protester raises his fist as he is standing up backdrop by crowd.
4. Antigovernment slogan seen as thousands of people gather to demonstrate.
5. Wide showing protesters jumping
6. Protester waving Bulgarian flag
7. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Georg Petrov, Student at National Arts Academy:
"We are not protesting only against the budget—we are demanding the government’s overthrow for its irresponsibility, negligence, and the disgrace it has brought upon Bulgaria."
8. Students waving national flag
9. Wide of Petrov standing high on a building and shouting "Resignation"
10. Wide of protesters
11. Students hold "Stop" signs as they take part in the antigovernment protest
12. People shout "Resignation"
13. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Alexander Tanev, leader of student association "Students against the Mafia":
“We truly hope our actions will lead to real change. What I can say with certainty is that we will not stop. We are prepared to continue with active protests, uniting students from across Bulgaria and abroad. You will soon see our actions, but it is up to us to dismantle the corrupt model built by Borisov and Peevski — that is why our association was created.”
14. Close of demonstrators shouting "Resignation"
15. People holding banners and flags.
16. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Elly Martinova, teacher:
"Any party that operates in a mafia-like way must leave and never return—resign, resign"
17. Cutaway
18. SOUNDBITE (Bulgarian) Elly Martinova, teacher:
"We are protesting because people are exhausted from being manipulated, robbed, lied to, deceived, impoverished and seeing countless human lives destroyed."
19. Various of the protest
STORYLINE:
Tens of thousands of people joined massive protests in major cities across Bulgaria on Wednesday, accusing the government of sponsoring widespread corruption.

The demonstrations come after last week’s protest wave was sparked by the Bulgarian government’s budget plans for higher taxes, increased social security contributions and spending increases.

The protesters' demands have since expanded to include calls for the center-right government of Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov to resign.

In the capital, Sofia, protesters gathered on the central square between the buildings of the parliament, the government and the presidency. Chanting “Resignation” and “Mafia,” they called on Zhelyazkov's minority coalition Cabinet to step down.

University students in Sofia joined the protests, which organizers said outnumbered last week's rallies that drew over 50,000 people. Media estimates based on drone visuals put the number of protesters to over 100,000.

At the core of their frustration is the influence of politician Delyan Peevski, who has been sanctioned by both the U.S. and Britain, and whose MRF New Beginning Party supports the current minority coalition in power. According to many, he plays a dominant role in shaping the policy of the government in line with oligarchic interests.

Wednesday’s protest remained peaceful, and coincided with the upcoming sixth no-confidence vote against the government.

The oppositional coalition We Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria, the main organizer of the protests, has submitted a motion of no confidence against the government which will be put to a vote on Thursday.




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